Great hole in the wall Coffee Roaster. This is NOT a cafe or bakery. This was the first thing I was told when I came in asking if they did espresso drinks. Unfortunately the espresso machine was out of commission but he had fresh drip coffee, and went into his explanation of his process. Very friendly guy, and the coffee was fantastic!! Great flavor and much stronger than your standard coffee. Best coffee I've ever had. If you like coffee that actually tastes like coffee and not water, then you will love the coffee. It is only brewed with the previous days roasted beans. Would highly recommend you stop in for a coffee and an enlightening conversation with the owner. read more

Guy that works here is great. Coffee was a little pricey however may have been the best cup of coffee I've ever had. On top of that the education I got in coffee was worth 20x what I paid for the cup. Apparently I don't know sh*T about making coffee. Which is fair. read more

I love coffee, but not as much as I need it to live. I've never sought out good coffee or cared too much where I got it. Any drive thru, any Keurig or gas station is fine with me, it's all the same drug at the end of the day. And that's why this place is so complicated for me. A friend took me here for the first time before work some time in 2009. He said only that we have a quick stop to make, and then he pulled up to this graffitied brick building on W Fayette St with no sign and took me to the side door. (Not to mention the word "CODY" was written by itself in white to the right of the door!) When I walked in, it was the smell of roasted coffee beans that got me first, followed immediately by the ambiance of the place, posters and collectibles on every wall and surface, a few old couches off to the side. The first sip of coffee was an actual shock to my senses, it's dramatically better than anything I've ever experienced. It's just Doug and the dog there. There's no menu, just a stainless steel pump dispenser filled with the brew of the day. $2.50 cash gets you a 12 oz cup and you're on your way. Unless you start talking coffee with Doug, in which case you could be a while! He has cream and sugar available, but you should try your first cup black even if you don't normally take it that way. As Doug will tell you, you only put cream and sugar into coffee if you need to hide the bad taste. Doug can and will tell you anything you need to know about how to improve your home coffee situation. He'll walk you through the exact steps that would divert your business from him and make you a self sufficient coffee snob. He's got a number of great talking points condensed to 5 minute pitches. He'll walk you through the math of what you're spending vs what it would take to make something directly comparable to what you get from him. He'll provide you with step by step directions on what to get, how to use it, and what you're missing out on if you don't. Every time I talk to him I leave motivated to up my coffee game. Some day, Doug. Seriously though, I try to only speak this dramatically if I actually mean it. All other coffee, even other good coffees, kind of suck. 12 ounces will do more in taste and brain stimulation than any interval at any other place I've tried. I feel cooler for knowing about this place. read more

The Kind Coffee Company - My cup from my last visit, filled with notes from our conversation on the best gear to buy. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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What an experience.. this is not your typical coffee shop. Coffee beans are roasted fresh, and the owner greets you as soon as you enter the front door. There are tattered couches to sit on, tapestries hanging from the walls, and the smell of coffee is poignant throughout the room. If you want a REAL cup of coffee, an education, and a warm invitation for just $2.50 cash, stop in! Thank you! read more

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The coffee was great the owner was even better. Very unique but the quality is the best in the area

A great spot if you are in the pursuit of a good cup of coffee. Coffee, history of said coffee, and a Doug is an excellent artisan! Definitely will return! read more

Excellent beans!!! Doug is a show. He has a demeanor that needs to be experienced. Definitely worth a statue in Syracuse!

great cup of coffee. I do like strong black coffee. If you are looking for a half soy caramel machiatto, or a nice weak cup of coffee, this is not the place you want. Expresso or coffee, and I believe iced coffee are the offerings. While his coffee tends toward the strong side, there is always a background sweetness, so if you add some cream, most everyone will enjoy it The owner and sole operator, Doug, will gladly explain why his coffee is so good. His formula is to buy the best beans, roast them precisely fresh daily, and brew the coffee at the exact temperature and time parameters that yield the best cup. It does really work. He usually starts the week on monday with a lighter roast, progressing a bit darker every day through friday. The beans used vary from day to day. His coffee is always very good. read more

The Kind Coffee Company is, in my opinion, a "must experience for yourself" kind of place on the west side. It is in what seems to be a converted industrial building. Sacks of coffee line one wall as they roast on premises, and college-grade couches form a comfortable, laid back seating area for people to hang out. The prices are great, much cheaper than Starbucks and the coffee is at least as good. I jokingly refer to this place as where I go to get a "ghetto-cino" because of where it is, but the staff is great and all kinds of people can be found here, including some from the 'hood! It's a great neighborhood place though, everybody there has always been friendly & I would highly recommend checking it out! read more

The Kind Coffee Company - seating area inside Kind Coffee Company - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Sigh. I always believe in second chances. I attempted to purchase my am Joe for my commute without hassle. It did not go well at all. The owner of the shop is NOT a kind person. His signage is a lie. I refused the offered lid. His enormous scary dog...the size of a black bear is also another reason to steer clear. Buyer beware. Just don't go. read more

I've been driving by this building for years, but I never would have stopped in if it weren't recommended to me by a friend. If you like coffee, but you've only been making it using stuff you buy in a grocery store (even if it's "premium" coffee like Starbucks or Peets), you NEED to do yourself a favor and stop by this place. The freshness of the beans (which are roasted right there) makes them so much better than anything you'll get from any of the large coffee companies. Even more so than the taste, what I love about the freshness of the beans is the smell. When I buy the beans, I take them home, put them in a Ziploc bag, put that into a Rubbermaid container, and then put that in a cabinet in my kitchen. Even after all of that, for the first day at least, the aroma from the beans is strong enough to make my kitchen smell like a coffee shop. Just be aware that the quality of the beans drops off rapidly as soon as they're finished roasting, so be sure to buy only as much as you'll need in the next few days. read more

Don't be fooled by bad reviews here just because the owner doesn't have soy, espresso, wifi or other ordinary options your standard coffee shop has these days. This man serves a classic great cup of coffee, freshly roasted and freshly brewed with a huge smile. He's been there for 19 years, it's got history and a sense of community behind it. Added bonus of an awesome dog and hodge podge interior decorating from years of customers returning and leaving things behind. A must stop spot in Syracuse. read more

The Kind Coffee Company - Awesome interior sign and trinkets - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Syracuse, New York

My brother, who is almost as big a coffee junkie as me, has been raving about Kind Coffee for the last few years. He just sent me two pounds and they were both the best I've had in a long time. I usually buy on-line or from local roasters, but my experience is that the quality of both is inconsistent until you get into the $20+/lb range. Harrisonburg, VA where I live does have one coffee shop. What immediately caught my attention was that the coffee was not bitter but had a full body and taste, things I associate with really good coffee. If you've ever had pure, high quality Kona or something equivalent, you know that coffee can sometimes have an acidic taste without bitterness. If you are a fan of great coffee and live in the Syracuse area you ought to give this a try and find out just how bad most coffee is in comparison. read more

Cool place low key and homey, cool owner, sometimes you get to pet a dog inside, great coffee

What a spot! The best cup of coffee I have ever had. A personal tone and delicious coffee in a neat classic place

This isn't really the place to go hang out drink coffee, although it could be. It's the place to stop in and grab the kick ass coffee to grind and brew and blow minds later. read more

The best coffee in town. This is a no frills shop devoted to coffee bean roasting, and sales of cup of coffee.

Coffee snobbery is one thing....being rude is another. Maybe it was an off day but the service was not welcoming or even tolerating of customers. Very disappointing given other positive reviews. read more

I went there today for the first time. Doug spoke with me for about 20 minutes. We discussed the beans, regions, coffee appliances for home brewing, etc. The coffee is terrific. I'll continue to visit. read more

If you like coffee - that you can taste because there are no added syrups, etc.; you will be glad you came. The owner has a pretty direct personality style, which can sometimes be a little surprise - but he is very nice. The coffee is great. I drink coffee black. Doug does have REAL cream and sugar to add to your coffee, and offers expresso. read more

Coffee snobs welcome. This is the best place for roasted coffee and gourmet teas. I hate doing this to ya Doug, but I am taking one star off for ambiance. Pet friendly. read more

Literally the best cup of coffee you can get in Syracuse. Nothing else in Syracuse compares.

Best coffee in cny by far. If you like coffee this place is a must, great smells of roasting coffee beans and oldies in the background. Great all around read more

The coffee was decent but only offered as is - plain brewed coffee-- no lattes or cappuccino or any coffee drinks. They do have an amazing assortment of beans to go tho! read more

This place is great if you're grabbing a quick cup of plain coffee to go. However the owner is quite odd and the atmosphere is uncomfortable. I would recommend stopping in and forming your own opinion read more

Not ... Absolutely NOT...the place for espresso or espresso beverages. I Roast my own beans, blend them and am a fanatic about espressos, cappuccinos, etc. I was in Syracuse for work and the reviews for this place looked promising. Not so. Everything about the cappuccinos we ordered was wrong...badly wrong. The shots ran about 2X normal volume. Foamed milk was just plain bad, no structure, no velvety smoothness and about 3X what is appropriate for a cappuccino. There are undisputed standards by which espressos and cappuccinos are measured. The shot has a certain volume n timing with a resultant thick sweet crema, the milk frothing is a delicate art that should result in a shaving cream smooth thick and sweet liquid comprising two thirds of the total coffee and milk volume. The taste of the coffee we got with out bad milk laden latte was burnt and thin. The milk was steamed to too high a temperature and had begun to break. We tossed both our drinks despite being in desperate need of caffeine. It was that bad. The whole time, the owner is bragging about this being the best coffee in Syracuse. Not even as palatable as Starbucks...if that is possible. read more

Great coffee and that's that! Pleasant experience through and through. Doug is very knowledgeable and helped me decide on some decent coffee gear and methods to brew. read more

Ok I'm not sure if the name of this business is supposed to be ironic or not. I asked one question about his menu and he responded rudely that it doesn't concern me. Go here of you want to be treated like this. Besides his crack house living room style layout I wasn't impressed. What he had to buy in the store was a blend of left over crap and gave me a snotty explanation of how he had combined them. This guy is the coffee nazi, but the coffee isn't even good. read more

Perhaps the best roasted coffee in the region. Not the fanciest of places; you won't find a soy latte or other barista style drinks here, but if you love coffee, this place is a must-stop. The owner sources his own beans and roasts the coffee on site - and the difference is amazing. read more

I order from him mail-order (I know Doug from college). Great and ever-changing selection of beans, roasted to order exactly as you wish, from all over the world. Love the Costa Rican Miel (honey-roasted), Kona and Guatemalan I got there, but the exact beans available constantly changes. read more

best coffee in syracuse!!! only has black coffee (no lattes, mocha-whatevers).....

Odd little place and even a odder man with a hat who huffed and acted very annoyed when he had to get up to serve me; or not bc the only thing that was served was attitude by the very annoyed man... Drive past and go some where else. Fail. read more